Combination centrifugal guide and chain guide

ABSTRACT

Alternate means, selected according to the size and delivery speed of rod coming from a rod mill, incorporated in a single machine and driven at a proper speed for receiving and changing the direction of travel of the rod as received from the mill through a substantial angle to deliver the rod to a conventional laying head or other rod-assembly means.

United States Patent 2 Inventor Martin Gilvar Westboro, Mass.

Appl. No. 28,595

Filed Apr. 15, 1970 Patented Oct. 5, 1971 Assignee Morgan Construction Company Worcester, Mass.

COMBINATION CENTRIFUGAL GUIDE AND CHAIN GUIDE 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 226/110, 226/171, 226/183, 226/184 Int. Cl B6Sh 29/16 Field of Search 226/171,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,100,070 8/1963 Smith 226/171 3,104,792 9/1963 Walton 226/183 Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Attorney-Chittick, Pfund, Birch, Samuels & Gauthier ABSTRACT: Alternate means, selected according to the size and delivery speed of rod coming from a rod mill, incorporated in a single machine and driven at a proper speed for receiving and changing the direction of travel of the rod as received from the mill through a substantial angle to deliver the rod to a conventional laying head or other rod-assembly means.

PATENTED BET 5B?! $3,610,498

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IN\Ii/\"I'( ms MARTIN GILVAR PATENTEU our 5 l97| AT" )RNIH'S COMBINATION CENTRIFUGAL GUIDE AND CHAIN GUIDE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has been recent practice to interpose a device between the finishing stand of a rod rolling mill and a coiler which will assist the rod in negotiating the bend from the delivery pipe to the coiler entry pipe and which will also pull the tail ends of rolled rod through the delivery pipes. This practice has been made necessary by the increase in length of delivery pipes, such increased length being used to facilitate rod cooling.

One of the devices most commonly used heretofore for this purpose has been a set of power driven pinch rolls which ensured movement of the last part of the rod into the coiler after the tail end had left the last pair of rolls in the mill. The pinch rolls, however, have proved undesirable in some aspects, particularly in that they tended to mark the surface of the rod. The pinch rolls have been supplanted in recent years by a socalled chain guide, one form of which is shown in the US. Pat. No. 3,100,070 to Sheridan Smith entitled APPARATUS FOR HANDLING HOT METAL ROD. This type of guiding device is capable of performing satisfactorily over a wide range of rod delivery speeds, and particularly well at very low rod speeds.

Another type of rod delivery device that is now in use is that known as a centrifugal guide, one form of which is shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 2,955,731 to Meinshausen entitled DRIV- ING DEVICE FOR GUIDING ROLLED WIRE INTO A COILER. This device has been found suitable for handling small sized rods traveling at a higher range of speeds which overlap the rod speeds that can be accommodated by the chain guide device.

This present invention has effectively combined in a single unit the chain guide and the centrifugal guide so that the range of rod sizes and rod speeds be received from the mill and delivered to the coiler may be broadened on the slow speed side by the use of the chain guide and on the high speed side by use of the centrifugal guide. In the overlapping intermediate range of speeds, the selection of the chain guide or the centrifugal guide usually is decided by the rod size.

The machine shown herein effectively combines the two types of guides in a manner in which they are both continuously driven, preferably, by a single power source. By moving the entire unit a predetermined short distance one way or the other, the oncoming rod may be directed selectively into either the chain guide side of the mechanism or into the centrifugal guide side. In either case, the discharge position from the guide will be directly over the rod coiling mechanism which ordinarily will be a laying head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the machine with certain parts of the structure broken away for greater clarity.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 1 with the protective cover over the wheels broken away.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown the end of delivery pipe 2 through which the rod 4 travels on its way to the laying head 6. Pipe 2 is fixed in space as is laying head 6. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, there are two short rod receiving pipes 8 and 10, and two short delivery pipes 12 and 14 just above the laying head 6. In the position of FIG. I, pipe 8 delivers rod to the centrifugal guide, generally referred to at 11. When the machine is moved to bring pipe 10 into alignment with delivery pipe 2, as shown in FIG. 4, the rod will be delivered to the chain guide, generally referred to at 13. Similarly, when the machine is in position shown in FIG. 1, the short delivery pipe 12 will deliver rod from the centrifugal guide 11 to the laying head. When the machine has been shifted to place receiving pipe 10 in alignment with delivery pipe 2, as in FIG. 4, then the chain guide 13 and the short delivery pipe 14 will be in position to deliver rod to the laying head.

III

There is shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a motor I6 which drives shaft 18 carried by suitable bearings one of which is shown at 20 in FIG. 3. Keyed on the end of shaft 18 is a wheel 22 having secured to its outer periphery a pair of rims 24 and 26. Rim 24 is grooved as at 28 and rim 26 is grooved as at 30.

All of the structure thus far described is rigidly mounted on a frame 32 which frame rests on a pair of transversely extending tracks 34. The arrangement is such that the entire structure carried by frame 32 may be moved back and forth for a limited distance along tracks 34 as indicated at 35, 35' in FIG. 4 to permit either pipe 7 or pipe 10 to be brought into alignment with delivery pipe 2. In conventional manner, fixed stops will be provided on tracks 34 to limit movement of the frame to the exact extent required to produce the necessary pipe alignment. When in the selected position, clamping means such as the nut 36 will hold the frame fixed to tracks 34.

Frame 32 includes an extension 38 on which is mounted a fixed support 40. This support carries a bearing housing 42, the details of which are shown in FIG. 3. In housing 42 are spaced bearings 44 and 46 which carry a rotatable shaft 48. This shaft has on its outboard end a disc 50 (or wheellike equivalent) which carries at its outer periphery a circular flange 52. The means for mounting the housing 42 on support 40 need not be described in detail, suffice it to say that the axis of shaft 48 must be so positioned to intersect or approximately intersect the axis of shaft 18 so that a universal joint or its equivalent 54 may be interposed between shafts l8 and 48 whereby operation of motor 16 will cause simultaneous rotation of wheel 22 and disc 50.

The angularity of shaft 48 to shaft 18 is in the order of 20 which facilitates ease of operation of the universal joint mechanism 54. The circumferential overlap of flange 52 over the outer periphery of rim 26 extends for a distance of about In the position shown in FIG. 3, the groove 30 is at its maximum inward position along the inner surface of flange 52. By varying the overlap, the extent of the angle through which groove 30 is covered may be controlled within limits.

In order to provide substantially uniform spacing between flange 52 and the periphery of rim 26 through the arc in which they overlap, the rim 26 is tapered to the left and the flange 52 is tapered to the right as viewed in FIG. 3.

From the foregoing description, it will now be appreciated that rod coming from the delivery pipe 2 into the receiving pipe 8 as in FIG. I will be delivered into groove 30 just as rotating flange S2 is starting to cover rotating groove 30. The direction of the rod 4, traveling within groove 30 and held there by flange 52, is turned through an angle of about 90. As flange 52 withdraws from its coverage of groove 30 at the position 55 (see FIG. 3) immediately above the upper end of the short delivery pipe 12, the leading end of the rod can leave groove 30 and enter pipe 12 and then pass downwardly to the coiler which is ordinarily in the form of the laying reel 6.

It will be appreciated, of course, that the peripheral speeds of flange 52 and groove 30 will be substantially equal since the wheel 22 and disc 50 are driven by shafts l8 and 48 which rotate at the same r.p.m. Furthermore, it will be understood that the speed of motor 16 (or equivalent driving means) will be adjusted so that the speed of the flange 52 and groove 30 will match the speed of rod 4 coming from the rolling mill.

The rod 4 in being turned through a 90 angle by the centrifugal guide engages the inner wall of flange S2 with a high degree of friction. This friction is sufficient to pull the tail end of the rod after it has left the last pair of mill rolls, all the way through the delivery pipe to the laying head 6. This frictional engagement between the rod and the interior flange 52 does not, however, deface the surface of the rod, first, because the interior of flange 52 is smooth and, secondly, because there is no appreciable sliding motion between the flange and the rod.

The operation of the chain guide will now be described.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the chain guide comprises the wheel rim 24, and a pair of pulleys S6 and 58, both of which are mounted for free rotation on shafts whose axes are parallel to the shaft 18 and are carried by a vertical frame portion 60. A flexible silent chain or band 62 extends around these pulleys. The pulleys and the chain are in alignment with the groove 28 of rim 24, and the chain, by virtue of the position of the pulleys, will overlie groove 28 for an angular distance substantially equal to the required change of direction of the rod 4 to direct its entry into laying head 6. The length and tension of chain 62 is such that when the rod 4 is between the chain and the groove 28, as shown in FIG. 3, it will be firmly gripped but not to the extent of defacing the rod surface. Chain 62 is not driven and its movement is caused solely by the engagement of the rod therewith. Again, how ever, as in the case of the centrifugal guide, the motor speed 16 must be adjusted so that the peripheral speed of rim 24 and its groove 28 will match that of the oncoming rod 4. The motor characteristic is such that the rim speed is slightly higher than the rod speed when no rod is present, but the rim assumes rod speed when the rod enters the guide and the motor is loaded.

When the chain guide 13 is to be used, the frame locking means 36 is released and the frame and all related structures are moved from the position in FIG. 1 in which pipes 2 and 8 are aligned to the position of FIGS. 2 and 4 in which pipe 10 is aligned with pipe 2 and pipe 14 is aligned with the entrance into laying head 6.

When the centrifugal guide 11 is to be returned to use, then preferably the supporting structure for the pulleys 56 and 58 and the chain 62 is moved to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 and in which the various parts as designated 60', 56, 62 and 58'. The shifting of the chain mechanism to this inoperative position is accomplished in the following manner. The frame 60 as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, is pivoted as at 64 to a rearward extension 66 of the main frame 32. An air cylinder 68, when actuated, drives piston 70 forward to turn the frame portion 60 about pivot 64 until it reaches the position 60". When it is over center, a stop arrangement 72 will maintain it in inoperative position. When chain 62 is to be restored to operative position, then piston 70 is moved in the opposite direction so that the frame portion 60 will be swung downwardly to the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In order that the piston 70 may follow the lever arm to which it is attached, the air cylinder 68 is pivoted as at 74.

Means in the form of an air cylinder 76 and a suitably related lever arm 78 are available for shifting the shaft of pulleys 56 whereby the operating tension of belt 62 maybe varied as necessary. In FIGS. 1 and 4, a protecting guard element 80 which normally overlies the fast moving chain 62, has been broken away for clarity. The protective structure also includes a removable side plate 82 shown in FIG. 2. This plate is held removably in position by clips 84 and 86.

The summary of operation is as follows. The size and delivery speed of the rod produced by the mill is known. If the rod is of small diameter and being delivered at a speed higher than can be accommodated by the chain guide, the rod would be directed to groove 30 of the centrifugal guide 11. This is accomplished by shifting the frame 32 to place pipe 8 in alignment with pipe 2. Motor 16 will be operated at a speed to cause groove 30 and flange 52 to match the rod speed. The rod will then be delivered to the centrifugal guide part of the unit and the rod will be directed to the laying head 6 by pipe 12.

If the rod speed is slow and the rod relatively large, then, preferably, ,the chain guide 13 will be used. This is accomplished by moving frame 32 to bring pipe 10, rim 24 and chain 62 intoalignment with pipe 2 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The rod will leave the chain guide 13 via pipe 14 to be fed to the laying head 6.

If the rod speed is such that it could be handled by either the chain guide or the centrifugal guide, then the choice will, in

most cases, be determined by the rod size. Ordinarily, the chain guide 13 will be used for the'larger sized rod, the centrifugal guide 1 lvfor the smaller diameter rod.

In the form shown, a single variable speed motor 16 has been used to drive the shafts l8 and 48 which shafts are connected by the universal oint 54. It is to be understood that other alternative means for driving shafts 18 and 48 at the same speed might be used, such as, for example, two motors, one for each shaft, which motors would be electrically synchronized in known manner. Or, the shafts 18 and 48 might be connected by gears, sprockets and chains, etc. all of which are to be considered the equivalents of the driving means disclosed, and which, due to the state of the transmission art, do not need to be illustrated.

Modifications and further applications of the invention will now be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Iclaim:

1. Means for receiving rod from the delivery pipe of a rod mill and delivering the rod in a different direction to a coiler, said means comprising a supporting frame, a horizontal first shaft rotatably mounted thereon, a second shaft rotatably mounted on said frame and angularly disposed to said first shaft, the axes of said shafts substantially intersecting each other, a wheel carried by said first shaft, said wheel having first and second side by side circumferential grooves therein, said first groove adapted to receive relatively large sized rod, said second groove adapted to receive smaller sized rod, a continuous belt mounted on spaced pulleys, said belt closely overlying said first groove for an angular distance substantially equal to the desired angular change in direction of said rod, a disc on and at right angles to said second shaft and having a circular flange which overlies said second groove for an angular distance substantially equal to the desired angular change in the direction of said rod, variable speed means for driving said first and second shafts at the same selected r.p.m., whereby the peripheral speeds of said wheel and flange may be adjusted to match that of rod coming from said delivery pipe, and means whereby said rod may be directed selectively between said first groove and said overlying belt or between said second groove and said overlying flange and after said rod has been turned through the required angle, said rod will be delivered from said first groove, or said second groove as the case may be, to a coiler.

2. The construction set forth in claim 1 in which the periphery of said wheel adjacent said groove which is covered by said flange is tapered in the direction of said driving means, and the interior of said flange is tapered towards said disc, and the space between said periphery and flange is less than the thickness of the rod running through said second groove.

3. The construction set forth in claim 1, said frame being mounted on tracks for back and forth movement in a direction parallel to said first shaft, whereby either said first groove or said second groove may be aligned with the said delivery pipe and said coiler, and means for securing said frame in either selected position.

4. The construction set forth in claim 1, and means for moving said pulleys and said belt away from said first groove when rod is being directed to said second groove.

5. The construction set forth in claim 1, said frame having affixed thereto two short intermediate rod directing pipes for receiving rod alternatively from said delivery pipe to guide said rod to either said first or second groove, and two other short pipes for directing rod leaving said first or second groove after the rod direction has been changed by said belt or flange to said coiler.

6. The construction set forth in claim 1, said pulleys being mounted on axes which are parallel to said first shaft. 

1. Means for receiving rod from the delivery pipe of a rod mill and delivering the rod in a different direction to a coiler, said means comprising a supporting frame, a horizontal first shaft rotatably mounted thereon, a second shaft rotatably mounted on said frame and angularly disposed to said first shaft, the axes of said shafts substantially intersecting each other, a wheel carried by said first shaft, said wheel having first and second side by side circumferential grooves therein, said first groove adapted to receive relatively large sized rod, said second groove adapted to receive smaller sized rod, a continuous belt mounted on spaced pulleys, said belt closely overlying said first groove for an angular distance substantially equal to the desired angular change in direction of said rod, a disc on and at right angles to said second shaft and having a circular flange which overlies said second groove for an angular distance substantially equal to the desired angular change in the direction of said rod, variable speed means for driving said first and second shafts at the same selected r.p.m., whereby the peripheral speeds of said wheel and flange may be adjusted to match that of rod coming from said delivery pipe, and means whereby said rod may be directed selectively between said first groove and said overlying belt or between said second groove and said overlying flange and after said rod has been turned through the required angle, said rod will be delivered from said first groove, or said second groove as the case may be, to a coiler.
 2. The construction set forth in claim 1 in which the periphery of said wheel adjacent said groove which is coverEd by said flange is tapered in the direction of said driving means, and the interior of said flange is tapered towards said disc, and the space between said periphery and flange is less than the thickness of the rod running through said second groove.
 3. The construction set forth in claim 1, said frame being mounted on tracks for back and forth movement in a direction parallel to said first shaft, whereby either said first groove or said second groove may be aligned with the said delivery pipe and said coiler, and means for securing said frame in either selected position.
 4. The construction set forth in claim 1, and means for moving said pulleys and said belt away from said first groove when rod is being directed to said second groove.
 5. The construction set forth in claim 1, said frame having affixed thereto two short intermediate rod directing pipes for receiving rod alternatively from said delivery pipe to guide said rod to either said first or second groove, and two other short pipes for directing rod leaving said first or second groove after the rod direction has been changed by said belt or flange to said coiler.
 6. The construction set forth in claim 1, said pulleys being mounted on axes which are parallel to said first shaft. 